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HR 5228119th CongressIn Committee
HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025
Introduced: Sep 9, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-Michigan)
Labor & EmploymentSocial Services
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 would amend Medicaid law to remove a specific limitation on payments for certain home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers. By striking subparagraph (C) of section 1915(c)(11) of the Social Security Act, the bill aims to give states more flexibility in how they fund HCBS waivers under Medicaid. While the exact nature of the current limit isn’t detailed in the provided text, removing the limitation could potentially allow higher or more flexible payments to providers and programs that deliver HCBS, with possible downstream effects on wages, staffing stability, and service capacity for people who rely on HCBS instead of institutional care.
Key Points
- 1The bill is titled the HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 and is introduced in the House with a referral to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2It would remove a cap or limit on payments for certain Medicaid HCBS waivers by striking subparagraph (C) of section 1915(c)(11).
- 3The change could widen funding flexibility for HCBS waivers, enabling states to allocate more resources toward services delivered in home or community settings.
- 4By potentially enabling higher or more consistent payments to HCBS providers, the measure may support workforce stability, wages, and benefits for HCBS workers (though the bill text itself does not specify wage or employment terms).
- 5The bill does not include detailed implementation provisions in the provided text; technical questions would require reviewing the broader statute and any accompanying analyses or fiscal notes.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: Medicaid beneficiaries who receive HCBS, and the HCBS workers/providers delivering those services.Secondary group/area affected: State Medicaid programs (which administer HCBS waivers) and HCBS-related employers and organizations.Additional impacts: Potential effects on state budgets and federal funding allocations (FMAP considerations), service capacity, workforce recruitment and retention, and oversight/compliance considerations for waiver programs.1915(c) waivers are a cornerstone of Medicaid’s approach to long-term services and supports, allowing states to provide a range of home- and community-based services as alternatives to institutional care.The outlined change is technical in nature (removing a statutory limitation) and does not specify new program standards, beneficiary protections, or explicit wage requirements; any resulting worker protections or wage effects would depend on how states choose to utilize the increased funding flexibility.
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